Hort Short: Beauty with a Bite

Tucked deep in the Lou Glenn Children’s Garden, carnivorous plants are attracting more than just insects! These attention-grabbing native pitcher plants and Venus fly-traps have eye-catching flowers hoisted high above the danger to pollinating insects.

Sarracenia alata

This strategy allows them to make seeds for the next generation of plants while ensuring that they don’t accidentally eat the pollinators providing them a service!

Sarracenia leucophylla

Most carnivorous plants enjoy wet, boggy soil and full exposure to the sun. Under the right conditions, Venus fly-traps take four to five years to reach maturity before they will flower.